Long Read // Keyside are destined for the big time
Liverpool band Keyside have set the bar high with their debut EP, ‘Nikita’, which has proved to be hugely popular. In the weeks since the release, the group have announced a variety of huge shows including appearances at some of the UK’s most well-known festivals. I caught up with front man Dan Parker, before guitarist Ben Cassidy joined in the later stages of the virtual-meet, to discuss all things Keyside.
Mustering up a body of material like ‘Nikita’ is no easy feat, yet Keyside seem to have achieved the stunning EP with ease. It felt apt to kick off the interview by asking how the band had found the reaction to ‘Nikita’, especially with it being the first chance for listeners to experience the band across a wide collection of music.
“It’s been great. The more we release and the more gigs we do the brighter things look”, Parker explained.
This pattern is evident for all to see. The steady growth of the group’s following as they worked towards the debut EP was clear, and extremely deserved. With ‘Nikita’ now being in the world, it seems certain that more and more will come to love the band.
Those who have listened to the EP will know that the titular track- in particular- is undeniably catchy, with jangly guitars and striking vocals at the fore front. When asked about the response to the track itself, the front man explained how it had received great feedback, before going on to say:
“We haven’t done a song like that, which is quite pop-y, so it was good to try that out.”
The style of ‘Nikita’ as a single is effortlessly cool. It oozes class and while it is different, as mentioned by Parker, to some of their other material, it displays the talent of Keyside just as well as any other track.
Following from this, it seemed relevant to ask whether this different style was a conscious decision when the song was conceived.
“It just kind of happened” Parker said, before going on to explain that- during the writing process- he tries to avoid diluting ideas.
This freshness is evident in the music of Keyside. It’s evident that their material is raw, from the heart and most certainly not diluted.
Naturally, while on the topic of the titular track, it seemed right for me to ask about its origin.
“I had the lyrics and the concept of the song for a while, and then I did the melody.” Parker expressed that this wasn’t the way that the band have come up with songs in the past, saying that usually the melody kicks things off.
‘Nikita’ as a track is phenomenal. It explores hard-hitting themes of substance abuse in such a classy fashion, in that it talks about these very real issues, within a great song that listeners can lose themselves to. Keyside should be extremely proud of this one, for it’s most certainly not easy to delve into such difficult themes whilst producing an incredible track.
The release of their debut EP has brought Keyside more listeners. I asked Dan Parker how he and the group would describe themselves and what they’re about to any of those just discovering them.
“We’re just a band who try and write songs people can relate to, really”.
Those who have listened to Keyside for some time will be the first to say that their music achieves this goal tenfold. Relatable lyricism amid stunning tracks filled with jangly guitars and impeccable rhythm sections. It’s all you could ask for and more.
Something which seemed apparent to ask the Liverpool outfit was how they had been impacted by the groups who have come before them in the musically-rich city.
Parker spoke highly of groups like The La’s, explicitly saying: “we love them.” This is noticeable in the group’s material. That timeless sound of chorus-filled guitars can be heard in the discographies of both artists, with Keyside offering a modern twist on the style.
While on the subject of Liverpool, it felt appropriate to ask about the band’s recent sold out show at Liverpool’s Arts Club Loft. Keyside sold out the venue, and the front man spoke highly of the gig.
“That was the best gig we’ve done by far. It was the biggest and the most exciting. It’s boss seeing it grow.” Dan Parker seemed thrilled at the gig, and rightly so. To be selling out home town shows is something to be massively proud of.
Something which was apparent throughout my chat with Keyside was that the group are incredibly humble. They love what they do, and they’re grateful for their listeners. This was evident when Parker spoke of the band’s gigs outside of Liverpool. He expressed their enjoyment of playing in various cities, talking highly of experiencing different cultures as their music takes them around the country.
The beauty of modern technology meant that guitarist Ben Cassidy was only able to access the virtual interview for the tail end, but his insight was greatly appreciated. When asked about how the rest of 2024 hopefully looked for Keyside, he replied:
“Just building on what we’ve already got. I think this year’s an important year in terms of next year because we’ve got to build as much as we can and create the foundations.”
Their relentless work ethic is plain to see. Keyside aren’t here to rest on their laurels, they actively want to progress. This has resulted in a stunning debut EP in the form of ‘Nikita’.
As the interview closed out, I asked about the plans for Keyside in terms of following up the EP.
Cassidy explained that they would be back in the studio soon, but they’re not going to set too much in concrete just yet. This free-flowing approach seems perfect. One of the great things about the music of the band is that it really feels organic, and not putting too much pressure on the writing and recording of new material seems like a great idea.
The final thing I asked the band members was if they had any dreams for Keyside. This was met with an immediate, joint reply of one word: “Glastonbury.”
It feels certain that Keyside are destined for the big time. Glastonbury, as well as other major festivals is certainly not an impossible goal for the Liverpool band. With a debut EP with such quality as theirs, the world is their oyster.
It was a pleasure to catch up with Dan Parker and Ben Cassidy. Keep an eye on Keyside, you won’t want to miss what they get up to next.
Feature by Matthew Caslin
